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Vermiculture Eco-Friendly Measure to Reduce Household Pollution

1.
Research Journal of Family, Community and Consumer Sciences ________________________ ISSN 2320 – 902X
Vol. 1(2), 18-21, April (2013) Res. J. Family, Community and Consumer Sci.
International Science Congress Association 18
Vermiculture: Eco-Friendly Measure to Reduce Household Pollution
through Standard Method of Garbage Disposal
Singh Pratiksha and Singhvi Ritu
Department of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA
Available online at: www.isca.in
Received 24th
November 2012, revised 23rd
January 2013, accepted 22nd
April 2013
Abstract
Domestic solid waste disposal is a matter of every day discussion at local and global level yet the problem evades solution.
The technique of vermin-culture, if utilized by every homemaker would certainly reduce the serious environmental and health
problem the world over. There is an urgent need to develop proper waste management technique for recycling of organic
waste created from kitchen, farms and water bodies. It is estimated that in cities a human being creates about 0.4kg waste
per day. Thus by year 2000, when there will create city refuse of about 44 (0.4 kg X300m.X 365 days) million per year. The
present practice is just a way to remove dispose-off garbage, no matter where it put off, but actually a standard method of
vermin-composting technique is required there. The process of vermin-composting requires the individual to collect the
kitchen and garden waste in a container rather than disposing it. So, the vermin-culture is an environmentally beneficial
technique and it requires little investment of time and some inexpensive materials.
Keywords: Kitchen Waste, Indoor Environment, Eco-Friendly, Worms.
Introduction
The sustainable and eco-friendly development of human
resources in a country is not possible without the preservation of
clean environment. Many opportunities will be lost if urgent
resource management and regeneration plan are not put into
action. An improper handling or neglect of waste effects the
environment and health of living beings whereas its appropriate
management ensures conservation of environment and better
health of living beings. The disposal of garbage from kitchen
and garden is becoming an attention drawing problem in urban
areas. We find heaps of garbage in many street corners and on
road sides creating insanitary conditions. This results in an
unhealthy environment.
India produces around 3000 million tones of organic waste
annually. This huge volume of waste(s) comes from agriculture,
urban and industrial sources and also from domestic activities.
So there is an urgent need to develop proper waste management
technique for recycling of organic waste created from kitchen,
farms and water bodies. It is estimated that in cities a human
being creates about 0.4kg1
waste per day. Thus by year 2000,
when there will create city refuse of about 44 (0.4 kg X300m.X
365 days) million per year.
A clean and green city is bound to be free of environment
degradation. One of major aims of making a city
environmentally safe is to rid of its garbage and particularly
implement the concept of ‘zero garbage’ at least by road side.
And therefore an eco-friendly way of disposing garbage must be
given a thought to clean and beautify or cities.
The environment is very broad in itself, consisting of natural
resources like air, water, soil etc. we are the only living beings
to have such an environment which made life possible.
Therefore, it becomes our prime duty to conserve our beautiful
environment.
Process of Vermicomposting
The process of vermicomposting requires the individual to
collect the kitchen and garden waste in a container could be a pit
in the garden, a clay pot, a plastic tub or metal box with holes.
The base of the bin is filled with small stone or slow degrading
plant residue for about 5 cm to be covered with a 5-8 cm thick
layer of cow dung. Over the cow dung put a thin layer of fresh
vermin compost containing live adult earthworms. This layer is
over layered by 15-20 cm thick layer of mixture containing cow
dung, kitchen waste, garden waste etc. the surface should be
covered with jute cloth and moist from time to time maintain a
moisture of about 30 per cent. After about one and half months
the entire processing is completed and the individual will get the
natural manure which can be used in the garden.
So, the vermiculture is an environmentally beneficial technique
and it requires little investment of time and some inexpensive
materials. The present research endeavors to develop an
integrated solid waste management project which is
environmentally acceptable, financially affordable and people
participatory.
Kitchen waste material was collect from houses, then air dried
and grinded into small pieces. This grinded waste material was
mixed with cow dung in the ratio of 4:1 (w/w) and was

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Research Journal of Family, Community and Consumer Sciences ____________________________________ ISSN 2320 – 902X
Vol. 1(2), 18-21, April (2013) Res. J. Family, Community and Consumer Sci.
International Science Congress Association 19
subjected aerobic composting to initiate microbial activity.
Moisture content of the was maintained to 60% to 70% and this
mixture was then kept in plastic containers covered with paper
having holes to facilitate aeration in order to get final composted
material. This mixture was hand manipulated at regular time
intervals and remoistened for sufficient microbial activity.
Vermicompost is the product or process of composting using
various worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other
earthworms to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing
vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast.
Vermicast, also called worm castings, worm humus or worm
manure, is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter
by an earthworm. These castings have been shown to contain
reduced levels of contaminants and a higher saturation of
nutrients than do organic materials before vermicomposting.
'Vermiculture' literally means worm growing or worm farming.
When earthworms are used primarily for the production of
compost, the practice is referred to as vermicomposting
In late 1980s and early 1990s agricultural scientists in the world
realized the limitations of chemical fertilizers used for fertility
management. While on one hand research was initiated to
improve the use efficiency of chemical fertilizers, on other hand
alternative inputs were also considered. Organic matter
recycling has been in use in India for centuries. In 19th and 20th
century scientific methods for converting low value organic
matter into high value organic composts were developed. The
activities of earthworms for recycling of organic matter became
the focus of attention by scientific community in mid-1990s.
Initially vermiculture i.e. use of surface. Living earthworms was
carried out at a very small scalemainly for management of
kitchen wastes. In 1995 Morarka Foundation began with 100
earthworms of Eisenia foetida species to develop a commercial
process of vermiculture. This pioneering effort enabled Morarka
Foundation to become the single largest producer of vermicast
in 1998, a position which it still enjoys2
.
Large scale vermicomposting occurs in many countries and the
vermicompost may be used for farming, landscaping, making
worm tea or for sale. Small scale vermiculture has become
increasingly popular in the past few years as individuals become
aware of the huge advantages of vermiculture and its
environmental benefits. There are a number of small
vermiculture systems available which makes starting a worm
farm a simple exercise. A good worm farm will come with the
information necessary to maintain the farm.
It was reported3
that lysimeter studies concludes that when
organic manure or organic wastes such as compost or sewage,
sludge are applied on land, the organic matter of soil increases
and slight change in pH of soil occurs.
Recycling4
is a common term used now-a-days, described that
recycling means use of materials either in original quality or
changed quality for repetitive use. Recycling is mainly resorted
to when the material is scarcely available or its cost is
prohibitive, when the cost of disposal is prohibitive or banned
by legislation, now-a-days, recycling is quite common on
account of costly materials in use and the problems associated
with disposal. In fact there are auxiliary industries based on
recycled material viz. PVC, plastic, HDPE etc. which are used
for recycling and cheaper materials are produced.
A pilot project5
on community solid waste management in the
city involving residents of Bangalore City Corporation was
taken. This project covers around 200 households. Garbage
generated is segregated into wet waste and dry waste at the
house hold level. Dry waste is sent for recycling by
vermicomposting and wet waste is dumped into a specially
constructed pit for compositing to determine the quickest and
most efficient method for compositing. Such efforts will not
only keep the city clean and free from pollution, but also serve
as an alternative source to chemical fertilizers if recycled and
used properly.
Earthworms are truly amazing creatures that hold vast potential
for addressing many of our current ecological concerns,
including climate change and food security. Perhaps
surprisingly, this is not breaking news. Earthworms aerate, till
and fertilize the soil, breaking down organic waste into plant-
available forms, improving the soil structure and nutrient and
water-holding qualities of soil. In the past 50 years in particular,
the use of chemical fertilizers, over-tillage of the soil and the
use of pesticides have killed earthworms and other beneficial
organisms, leading to poor soil fertility, loss of soil structure and
soil erosion. At the same time, rotting organic waste dumped in
landfills is polluting our underground water supply and
releasing vast amounts of the greenhouse gases responsible for
global warming.
While fertile soil has in the region of 5-million microbes per
gram, worm castings have been found to contain up to 100-
million microbes per gram - up to 20 times more! In the soil,
these microbes continue to break down organic matter into
plant-available forms, thereby enabling plant roots to take up
nutrients that would otherwise have stayed bound in the soil.
These beneficial organisms also suppress the growth of
pathogens, which means healthy soil and healthy plants.
Researchers have identified and named thousands of distinct
species of earthworm, but to date only around six have been
identified as useful in vermiculture systems. These species have
the ability to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions
and fluctuations and they are not adversely affected by handling
and disruption of their habitat. Other qualities that make these
species suitable include relatively short life spans, and rapid
growth and reproductive rates.
Earthworms eat organic waste and give us healthy soil and
organic fertilizer in return. Put simply, it is a deal that humanity
cannot afford to pass up. Researchers have identified and named

3.
Research Journal of Family, Community and Consumer Sciences ____________________________________ ISSN 2320 – 902X
Vol. 1(2), 18-21, April (2013) Res. J. Family, Community and Consumer Sci.
International Science Congress Association 20
thousands of distinct species of earthworm, but to date only
around six have been identified as useful in vermiculture
systems. These species have the ability to tolerate a wide range
of environmental conditions and fluctuations and they are not
adversely affected by handling and disruption of their habitat.
Other qualities that make these species suitable include
relatively short life spans, and rapid growth and reproductive
rates.
Earthworm systems are typically managed for one of three
reasons; waste management, production of worm biomass and
production of castings (vermicomposting). FullCycle's interest
in vermiculture primarily has to do with the promotion of
environmentally sound waste management practices, but also
the beneficial re-use of waste/resources through the production
of solid (vermicompost) and liquid fertilizer (vermi-tea or worm
tea).
It is evident by Alok Bharadwaj from the data that kitchen waste
material (control) characterized with high values of pH (9.32),
organic carbon (7.25%) and organic matter (12.49%). However,
other nutrients such as total nitrogen (0.214%), available
phosphorus (0.11%) and exchangeable potassium (0.086%)
were found in very trace amounts. The vermicomposting
activity significantly modified the physical and chemical
properties of kitchen waste material that can be an important
tool for organic farming. It is also indicated that during
vermicomposting the pH declines (from 9.32 to 8.37) with the
advancement of vermicomposting period (from 0 to 75 days). It
might be on account of high mineralization of nitrogen and
phosphorus into nitrates/nitrites and ortho-phosphate. Moreover,
the organic carbon content, organic matter and C: N ratio of the
kitchen waste material also showed the same pattern and decline
gradually upto 75 days. The highest values of organic carbon,
organic matter and C:N ratio were obtained in control (0 day)
i.e. 7.25%, 12.49% and 30.08% respectively and lowest values
were obtained after 75 days of vermicomposting i.e. 3.69%,
6.37% and 4.79% respectively.
The most common worms used in composting systems,
redworms (Eisenia foetida, Eisenia andrei, and Lumbricus
rubellus) feed most rapidly at temperatures of 15–25 °C (59-77
°F). They can survive at 10 °C (50 °F). Temperatures above 30
°C (86 °F) may harm them.This temperature range means that
indoor vermicomposting with redworms is suitable in all but
tropical climates. Other worms like Perionyx excavatus are
suitable for warmer climates. If a worm bin is kept outside, it
should be placed in a sheltered position away from direct
sunlight and insulated against frost in winter. It is necessary to
monitor the temperatures of large-scale bin systems (which can
have high heat-retentive properties), as the feedstocks used can
compost, heating up the worm bins as they decay and killing the
worms.
Because of the benefits described above, and despite these
drawbacks, farmers around the world have started to grow
worms and produce vermicompost in rapidly increasing
numbers. Warmer climes have tended to predominate so far,
with India and Cuba being the leaders to date. Vermicomposting
centres are numerous in Cuba and vermicompost has been the
largest single input used to replace the commercial fertilizer that
became difficult or even impossible to import after the collapse
of the Soviet Union6
. In 2003, an estimated one million tonnes
of vermicompost were produced on the island. In India, an
estimated 200,000 farmers practice vermicomposting and one
network of 10,000 farmers produces 50,000 metric tonnes of
vermicompost every month. In the past decade, farmers in
Australia and the West Coast of the U.S. have started to use
vermicompost in greater quantities, fuelling the development of
vermicomposting industries in those regions. At the same time,
scientists at several Universities in the U.S., Canada, India,
Australia, and South Africa have started to document the
benefits associated with the use of vermicompost, providing
facts and figures to support the observations of those who have
used the material.
Conclusion
Vermiculture is the best way of disposing waste coming from
kitchen or kitchen garden. Through this process no chemicals;
no any reaction needed to convert these wastes into manure. It is
a proper method of handling of waste which appropriate
management of these wastes and ensures conservation of
environment and better health of living beings. Vermiculture
production has now become a major component of agri-business
models across the country. Vermicompost is richer in nutrients
than the compost from a regular backyard composter. It is also
performs better as a planting medium than a commercial potting
mix with added nutrients. Worm castings, which are product
from vermicomposting, also hold moisture better than plain soil
and contain worm mucus which allows for the prevention of
nutrients being washed away at first watering. In this way both
the purpose of improved indoor climate as well as organic
farming is achieved. So, the vermiculture is an environmentally
beneficial technique and it requires little investment of time and
some inexpensive materials.
References
1. Salvi P., Composition of Solid Waste cited in integrated
solid waste management. Published by Hamburger
Umwelt Institute and Save Bombay Committee, Mumbai,
14-18 (1996)
2. Vermiculture - Research and Production, Morarka NGO
(http://www.morarkango.com/ biotechnology/research.php),
(2012)
3. Olaniya M. and Bhinde A., Effect of Solid Waste Disposal
on Land” Cited in Indian Journal of Environmental Health.
Published by National Environmental Engineering
Research Institute, Nagpur, 34(4), 193-199 (1992)